The Kenya National Highways Authority, KeNHA, has kicked off preparations to rehabilitate and dual Moiben-Eldoret airport-Mlango highway in Uasin Gishu county.
The anticipated first phase of the dualling of the road that will start from Chepkoilel junction, through Eldoret town, Eldoret Airport, and Mlango on the Uasin Gishu/Nandi county’s border will go a long way towards easing traffic congestion in Eldoret town which is expected to be elevated to city status soon.
Uasin Gishu County Governor Dr Jonathan Bii held a consultative meeting on Tuesday with officials from KeNHA to discuss ways of ensuring smooth implementation of the Moiben Junction-Mlango Dual Carriageway modernization project.
KeNHA officials who declined to be named as they are not allowed to address the press, explained that the dualling would start from Chepkoilel junction to Mlango, while rehabilitation would start from Moiben junction in the first phase of the anticipated project.
The 21.5-kilometre road will start from Mlango-Eldoret International Airport, Eldoret town, and Moiben Junction to enhance mobility within and outside Uasin Gishu County.
The scope of the project will include link roads in the six sub-counties of Ainabkoi, Soy, Kesses, Moiben, Kapseret, and Turbo.
The engagement focused on key areas to be considered during the first phase of implementation with the county boss asking the team to prioritise local manpower and have good plans for compensating residents who would be affected by the project.
“My administration has plans to construct a museum and we urge KeNHA to extend a hand as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives to support us in the success of that project. We also urge you to support the beautification of our established arboretum and rehabilitation of river Sosiani and other ongoing environmental programmes,” Governor Bii pleaded.
“As captured under agenda number six of the Nguzo Kumi blueprint, road infrastructure enhancement and expansion are among the key foci that are essential in supporting the economic and social growth of our residents,” he noted.
To kick off the project, KeNHA started stakeholder engagement and public consultative forums for the implementation of phase one in Moiben Centre on Monday and Eldoret Polytechnic today (Tuesday).
The KeNHA officials said the consultations would also be done in Kapseret, Kesses, Ainabkoi, and Turbo to ensure all concerns from the public are captured.
The forums will focus on house design review of Moiben junction-Eldoret town-Eldoret International Airport (21.5 km) and feasibility study, environmental and social impact study, preliminary engineering design, and preparation of tender documents for the dualling and rehabilitation of Eldoret International Airport-Kapsabet (33.5km) road.
The County Executive for Roads Eng. Joseph Lagat asked KeNHA to consider the improvement of identified link roads along the road which would enhance the transportation of goods and services, especially in accessing social amenities and markets.
“Our engineers have already identified the link roads that we would like you to support in improving bitumen standards around shopping centres, social amenities, and government institutions along the project route,” he said.
When complete, the entire project will incorporate dualling and rehabilitation of 33.5 kilometres of road from Eldoret International Airport to Kapsabet town.
By Kiptanui Cherono
